So another year is almost over and we find ourselves waving goodbye to the ‘noughties’. Despite the doom and gloom of the global recession, it’s been another successful year at Azam Marketing, and we’re fortunate to have won a host of exciting new clients as well as expanding internally with new staff.

But life’s not all about work! In the true spirit of Christmas reflection, I asked a few of the Azam team what their personal highlights had been this year:

Nadeem Azam, CEO
I am eternally grateful to Affiliate Future for dragging me to my first holiday in over five years this summer. It was a horrendous experience to get a passport at the last minute, but well worth it in the end as I got to enjoy swimming with turtles, riding a horse and singing karaoke for the first time in my life in beautiful Barbados. What better time can one have than to spend seven remarkable days in paradise with fifty of the most amazing people in online marketing?

Stuart Reader, Director of Paid Search Marketing
In April I was honoured (and very nervous) to be the best man at my brother’s wedding. It was on a beautiful sunny day in lovely surroundings in rural Essex, with dozens of family members and friends present. I was hugely relieved not to lose the rings before the ceremony and glad the bride and groom were still speaking to me after my ‘humorous’ speech, but most of all delighted to see them so happy together.

Sinead Hernen, Director, Affiliate Partnerships
My personal highlight was the birth of my second daughter Jemima Faye at Easter. Seeing her grow and interact with her older sister Robyn has been wonderful.

Karen Clayton, Key Accounts Director
In November, I fulfilled one of my travel ambitions and enjoyed a blissful 10-night holiday in Thailand. I’ve always wanted to swim in warm seas with tropical fish, and fulfilled this dream by going snorkelling off the coast of Phuket. It’s one of the best holidays I’ve ever had and, given the funds, I would go back in a heartbeat!

Ryan Ranaweera, Senior ECRM Manager
This year I’m spending Christmas in Mauritius. It almost feels like I am in a different world! Being able to work in such tropical and unspoilt surroundings is amazing and the locals treat you as part of their family, which makes the island feel homely. I’ve climbed mountains, fed giant turtles, windsurfed on huge waves, enjoyed a midnight bbq on the beach and cycled along a waterfall path, so it has been quite eventful to say the least!

Yagmur Guven, Strategic Partnerships Director
This year I came to the realisation even more so than before that, although it is not always possible to work through all of our issues in a single lifetime, it is important we confront what we are called to face in this life and deal with the challenges thrown in our path. It is also important to remember the most effective way to let your soul grow is to be an active participant in life. I learnt to be present in each moment and let my soul do this work for me.

James Hunt, Senior ECRM Manager
Having not been camping before, I was a little reticent to pack a tent in the car and head up to Keswick in the Lake District this summer. Once I got there however, I was blown away by the stunning landscape and had a thoroughly enjoyable time.

To sign off, I would like to wish all our advertisers, networks, agencies and blog readers a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Azam Marketing’s Christmas and New Year Opening Hours: we are always open 365 days a year to service our clients and partners and will be available our usual 08:00 to 22:30 GMT every day.

Visit our blog throughout 2010 to keep up the with the latest events and industry news. You can subscribe on this page. If you’d like to contact our friendly team please email us at results [at] azam.net or ring +44 (0) 20 7436 4496 anytime.